The eldest of a family of three children, born in a middle class background, he continued his secondary studies at the French high school in La Marsa, where he obtained his baccalaureate B. He continued his studies in Paris and became passionate about cinema. After a DEA in political sociology at the University of the Sorbonne in 1993, he was co-writer of certain episodes of the sitcoms H and Eva Mag broadcast on Canal +, then wrote a feature film screenplay, La Fêlure, in 1999, in collaboration with Zina Modiano. He also collaborates on the screenplay of Loin by André Téchiné, shot in Morocco, and Unpardonnables by the same director, shot in Venice. Mehdi Ben Attia is also an actor in a short film by Zina Modiano, Grogne.